Chapter 7

A few days later, the alarms sounded in Le-Koro once again. All around, the Matoran scattered as they prepared defenses, and Kongu quickly ran towards Turaga Matau.

"What cause-be for alarm-sound?" Turaga Matau asked.

"Scout-flyers return, speak of buzz-wing Rama swarm fast-flying this direction," Kongu reported. "We have small-time before they arrive, and defense-set be we must!"

Turaga Matau nodded. "Get all Gukko Force sky-high, and circle-fly in wait. For others, have them disc-armed and defense-set. Rama swarm will have to back-fly in retreat when we are done with them!"

Turaga Matau turned suddenly as he saw Tamaru running towards him and Kongu. "Tamaru, I have special-much task for you. I need you down-tree for task-vital."

"But Turaga," Tamaru protested. "Up-tree I can still ever-help with defenses."

Turaga Matau shook his head. "Tamaru, I ask-not you to down-tree because of skill-lacking," he said. "Very much the opposite. Of all Le-Matoran, you are skilled on ground-floor. You were one who returned Lewa's Makoki stone, and you needed not pilot skills. Your destiny is down-tree; let the rest of us protect sing-song Le-Koro."

Tamaru was still hesitant. "Are you sure?" she asked one last time.

Turaga Matau bowed to Tamaru. "I sure-mean what I say," he replied. "Now, with quick-speed, you must go. Set defenses and do Le-Koro proud!"

Tamaru bowed in turn to Turaga Matau and quickly departed, still disappointed but with her head held high. Kongu, however, frowned at her departure.

"That is such talent-waste," he complained to Turaga Matau. "True, Tamaru is still not skilled to be sky-bound, but she could still be much-use in village defenses. She is best true-shot with discs, and her agility is second to none. Down-tree defenses are unnecessary; Le-Koro only needs to worry about sky-attacks."

Turaga Matau chuckled mischievously. "Tamaru is not going down-tree just to defend Le-Koro. Her skills are much-needed for the Company. Turaga Vakama asked for Matoran to spare, but wind-fly pilot be help-no for what be needed. Tamaru is pick-best."

"What-be you chat-talk about?" Kongu asked, confused. "What Company?"

Turaga Matau waved his hand. "Matter-not to us now, we must set up tree defenses."

Below, Tamaru got to work cutting all connections to the jungle village from the ground. The elevator had already been pulled up and stored away, so she merely had to cut off sections of the vine ladder as she descended. Once it was gone, the only way to get to the city would be to fly up to it.

As she worked, she reflected on what had happened at the end of her adventure with Taipu and Kapura. Once they had escaped the canyon of the Hura Mafu River, it had been an easy flight back to Le-Koro. Tamaru had never flown on Kunono before, but the Kewa responded to her directions eagerly, and was able to bear the weight of the three Matoran as they returned to Le-Koro.

Turaga Matau had given them all high praise upon their return, and took to securing the Makoki stone again. A day later, Lewa had returned to the village one last time to take the stone himself. He hinted that he and the other Toa had a plan and it was time for the key stone to be used. Turaga Matau and the rest of Le-Koro had wished him luck on his venture.

Of course, Taipu and Kapura hadn't stuck around for long; as soon as they knew the Makoki stone was in good hands, they departed Le-Koro as well. Taipu headed back to Onu-Koro to resume work in the Great Mines, although he clearly would've preferred another adventure. Kapura, meanwhile, resumed his mission to locate the Chronicler. Tamaru was sad to see them leave, since she had become good friends with them on their journey. But they had destinies too, and theirs did not keep them in Le-Koro.

Tamaru finally reached the ground, and cut back the last of the vine ladder. She heard the scrapping of claws on wood, and turned to see the Burnak walking over the tree's roots towards her.

"Hello there," she said kindly to the Rahi. "Appear-be the Turaga wants me to down-join you here." The Burnak growled affectionately as it nuzzled her, and she patted the top of his head.

Less than a day after the fight in the canyon, the Burnak had returned to the base of Le-Koro. However, he had not come to fight or steal; this time he sought out Tamaru. After interacting with him, Tamaru realized that he recognized her as the Matoran who had saved his life in the river, in addition to freeing him from Makuta's influence. The Burnak turned out to be very loyal and a dedicated guard; she had watched as he scared off a Muaka who had wandered close to the base of Le-Koro, a feat few other beasts could pull off. With Turaga Matau's blessing, the Burnak had been allowed to stay as a new ground guard for the village.

"Know-not why Matau down-send me here when you can ever-defend better than I," Tamaru said, scratching under the Burnak's chin. "I just redundant-be."

There was another loud squawk, and Tamaru looked up to sight Kunono in the low branches above her. Tamaru had not flown on Kunono a second time after returning with the Makoki stone, but the Kewa still stayed close to Tamaru and would even let her brush and clean her feathers. Their relationship might not make them ready to join the Gukko Force, but Tamaru was pleased that she had finally connected with her Kewa.

Her thoughts were broken as the Burnak started to growl, glaring at the trail leading to the village's base. Tamaru tensed up and grabbed her disc; she had learned that the beast's senses were superior to even her own, and he could tell if intruders were approaching from a distance. But as she started to make out the shadows underneath the foliage, she placed a gentle hand on the Burnak. "It okay-be," she said. "It's just Matoran. Although why they jungle-venture now is strange-much."

As the group moved closer, Tamaru saw that there were six Matoran, and she even recognized half of them. Taipu and Kapura were part of the crowd, and they both waved at Tamaru as they approached. But the party was being led by none other than the Chronicler.

"Greetings, my friend" he said to Tamaru as they approached. "I don't know if you remember me, but I helped during that Nui-Rama invasion. And I need to speak with Turaga Matau." He hesitated, looking to where the elevator used to be. "Um, is there still a way to get up into Le-Koro?" he asked sheepishly

"Hello," Tamaru said, jumping down from her perch to stand next to the other Matoran. "Highbranch home is locked and protected. Matau Singer and Kongu Pilor, up-tree they are. Rama-swarm threatens and all good Le-Matoran fly defense. No way to reach village from down-tree now."

The Chronicler frowned, not liking the wrinkle in his plan. "But why aren't you up there with the others?" he asked.

"Down-tree guard am I, sent here because... I fly not," Tamaru finished lamely, looking away.

"That's not true!" Taipu said. "We flew together just the other day!"

"My Kewa let us air-fly, but that make-not me good enough to be wind-fly pilot," Tamaru explained. "Turaga Matau said my skills be better down-tree."

Kapura offered a warm smile. "I think your Turaga made a wise decision in that regard," he stated.

"You two know her?" the Chronicler asked, surprised. "There aren't a lot of Matoran who hang out in different villages."

The Ga-Matoran behind him huffed. "Well, that's only because some Turaga keep restricting our travels. I for one have jumped at the chance to get to travel some more."

"Well, not all of us are as kooky as you," the Po-Matoran said gruffly. "However, if the other villages knew of my fabulous artwork, they would certainly flock to Po-Koro more often."

"Tamaru was the Le-Matoran Kapura and I were telling you about," Taipu said to the Chronicler. "She helped us retrieve the Makoki stone from the evil Rahi!"

"She is indeed very knowledgeable and skilled," Kapura affirmed. "She would make an excellent companion."

"What-speak you now?" Tamaru asked, confused.

The Chronicler grinned sheepishly. "So I'm putting together a bunch of Matoran from all the villages to go help the Toa out at the Kini-Nui. It'll be dangerous, but it's essential all the same. I was going to ask Turaga Matau who he could spare, although it doesn't look like that's going to happen. But if you're half as good as Kapura and Taipu claim you are... I guess what I'm asking is, would you like to join my company?"

Tamaru paused for a moment to consider. Turaga Matau had said she was needed on the forest floor, but he didn't necessarily say he needed her to be a guard. Despite all the dangers and fear she had faced with Kapura and Taipu, she had felt a greater sense of worth with them than she ever had in Le-Koro, and she had even started to get over her fear of heights. She wanted to adventure across the island again, and further prove her worth.

"Join I will," she finally said. "Highbranch home safely guarded, no Rahi approach through brush, only from sky. Free am I to quick-travel to Kini-Nui with you."

"Excellent!" the Chronicler said. He gestured to the other Matoran with him. "Kapura and Taipu you already know, but this is Macku the boat racer from Ga-Koro, Hafu the famed carver from Po-Koro, and the silent Kopeke from Ko-Koro. Welcome to the Company!"

"Are you sure it's safe for you to leave?" Macku asked, looking around. "I've heard stories of the dangerous Rahi in the jungle; surely Le-Koro needs some sort of guard on the ground, right?"

"Being up-tree is best defense," Tamaru explained. "Even-still, I leave behind guard-good." She gestured to the Burnak, who cautiously approached the group.

Taipu yelped out and jumped back. "Is that who I think it is?"

Tamaru nodded. "He path-find back to jungle after you left, and have been all happy-smile and guard-good since."

Kapura chuckled. "You seem to have gained his loyalty after freeing him from the Makuta. I have heard stories that the Burnak can be the most faithful companions. I greatly prefer him to be on our side."

"I haven't quite seen a Rahi like him before," the Chronicler said, slowly approaching the Burnak, who let him pat him on the head. "And I've seen a lot of the creatures on this island. He is truly an impressive beast."

"That be ever-true," Tamaru said. "I leave down-tree guard behind in good paws with him."

"With Tamaru, we now have the last member that we were seeking," Kapura said to the Chronicler. "We should head for the Kini-Nui; the Toa must've gathered there by now."

"That's going to be quite the walk," Hafu grumbled. "We've already crossed half the island to collect everybody here, but the path to the Kini-Nui is far still."

"I can cut down the travel time a bit," the Chronicler said, pulling out a flute. "Turaga Matau gave me this flute song that can summon a Kewa, and it can give us a lift to anywhere on the island."

"That's great; then we can just fly over to the Kini-Nui," Hafu said.

Kopeke the Ko-Matoran shook his head and spoke in a quiet voice. "Storm looms on Mt. Ihu. Flying to the Kini-Nui would be hazardous. Best to approach on foot."

"Does anybody actually know how to get to the Kini-Nui?" Taipu asked.

"The main trail starts in Ga-Koro," Macku replied. "I've boated there before; I should be able to get us through the waterfall and to the head of the trail."

"Excuse me, did you just say through the waterfall?" Hafu asked incredulously.

The Chronicler played a few notes on his flute before responding. "We may not be able to fly to the Kini-Nui directly, but we can fly around the storm and reach Ga-Koro with the Kewa." However, his face fell as a smaller Kewa flew down towards him. "Except I don't think this particular bird will be able to carry all of us."

"Fret not, I can summon another," Tamaru said. She whistled, and Kunono swooped down out of the canopy and landed next to her. "Half of us can fast-fly with you, and the other half with me," she said.

The Chronicler grinned slyly. "Oh, and here I thought you said you couldn't fly."

"I… high-flying no-be my favorite way to travel," Tamaru said, as she helped Kapura and Taipu on the back of Kunono, while Macku, Hafu, and Kopeke climbed on the back of the other Kewa. "I prefer wind-sprint in jungle instead."

The Chronicler laughed as he pulled himself up onto the Kewa. "You certainly are one of the stranger Le-Matoran I've met, Tamaru, and that's saying something. But don't worry; all of us here are the oddballs of our villages; it just makes us that much more unique."

"Speak for yourself," Hafu said. "My talents are far superior to anybody else in Po-Koro."

"Your ego is also the largest there too," Macku commented.

"The Turaga still selected all of us to join this Company," Kapura said. "They have faith in us."

"Yes, plus we all appreciate a fun adventure!" Taipu added.

"Ready to go, Highfly Tamaru?" the Chronicler asked.

Despite herself, Tamaru grinned. "It's actually Tamaru, Highfly Vinesman, Deepwood Wayfinder," she corrected, before she and Kunono took to the sky.

The End.